The tipping point may come after years of injustice and hardship, but it will come and when it does, the people will rise and demand they be heard.
Thousands of people staged a sit-in in the port city on Tuesday after the ending of the deadline given for acceptance of demands presented by leaders of the “Gwadar Ko Haq Do” movement.
The protest was led by Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch, the secretary general of Jamaat-i-Islami’s Balochistan chapter. The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with their demands.
Speaking on the occasion, Maulana Baloch said they had given the deadline for the acceptance of their demands concerning the rights of the people of Gwadar.We want our legitimate rights, which are in accordance with the Constitution,” he said. “As Pakistanis, we want the government to provide basic facilities to the people of not only Gwadar but entire Makran.”
“We are not against any institution, but we won’t tolerate insult to our mothers and sisters. We are against those who don’t allow our youths to even go to the playground,” Maulana Baloch said.
He said illegal fishing was still rampant despite protests, and one could see large fishing trawlers across the coast from Ormara to Gwadar. Illegal fishing was destroying the marine life and depriving the local fishermen of their livelihood, he stressed.
He also bemoaned the fact that the fisheries department, Coast Guards, Maritime Security Agency and other institutions concerned had failed to stop illegal fishing.Maulana Baloch also highlighted insufficient health facilities, shortage of potable water and lack of jobs for the educated youth as some other major problems facing the people of Gwadar.
Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday took notice of the demands of fishermen in Gwadar, assuring that strict action would be taken against the illegal fishing by trawlers.
“I have taken notice of the very legitimate demands of the hardworking fishermen of Gwadar. Will be taking strong action against illegal fishing by trawlers,” the prime minister said on Twitter.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill on Sunday said the PM directed in November to address issue of illegal fishing in Gwadar immediately.
In a tweet, he said persons from all concerned departments were included in the committee to devise a workable solution to the issue. The committee would submit its recommendation in next three days and the issue would be resolved, he added.
Gill said Imran Khan always stood for the poor and no one would be allowed to exploit the poor.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led government did record development work in Balochistan, he added. He said Balochistan was very close to the heart of the PM.
